Which of the following statements is true regarding the -I effect?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following statements is true regarding the -I effect?
It stabilizes carbocations
It destabilizes carbanions
It withdraws electron density
It donates electron density
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following statements is true regarding the -I effect?
Step 1: Understand what the -I effect is. The -I effect refers to the ability of certain groups (like halogens) to pull electron density away from a molecule.
Step 2: Recognize that when electron density is withdrawn, it can make certain parts of the molecule less stable.
Step 3: Identify that carbocations (positively charged species) are less stable when they lose electron density because they already have a deficiency of electrons.
Step 4: Understand that carbanions (negatively charged species) gain stability when electron density is withdrawn because they have an excess of electrons.
Step 5: Conclude that the -I effect destabilizes carbocations and stabilizes carbanions.
